Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) Component of the Structural Engineering BREADTH Exam Specifications

Effective Beginning with the April 2011 Examination

The 4-hour Lateral Forces (Wind/Earthquake) breadth examination is offered on Saturday morning and focuses on wind/earthquake loads. It contains 40 multiple-choice questions. The exam uses the US Customary System (USCS) of units. The exam is developed with questions that will require a variety of approaches and methodologies, including design, analysis, and application. The knowledge areas specified as examples of kinds of knowledge are not exclusive or exhaustive categories. Score results are combined with depth exam results for final score of this component.
Approximate Percentage of Examination

I.

Analysis of Structures A. Lateral Forces 1. Wind 2. Horizontal seismic 3. Vertical seismic 4. Dynamic earth pressure B. Lateral Force Distribution 1. Statics (e.g., determinate and indeterminate, location of forces and moments, free-body diagrams) 2. Seismic design categories (C and lower) 3. Seismic design categories (D and higher) 4. Seismic static force procedures 5. Seismic dynamic force procedures 6. Configuration of a structural system to resist effects of horizontal torsional moments 7. Relative rigidity force distribution 8. Horizontal/plan and vertical irregularities 9. Flexible diaphragms 10. Rigid diaphragms 11. Simplified wind 12. Wind analytic procedures 13. Wind components and cladding 14. Main wind force resisting systems C. Methods 1. Computer-generated structural analysis techniques (e.g., modeling, interpreting, and verifying results) 2. Simplified analysis methods (e.g., influence lines, portal frame method/cantilever method)
1

37% 10%

22%

5%

II.

Design and Detailing of Structures A. General Structural Considerations 1. Load combinations 2. Serviceability requirements: building drift 3. Anchorage of a structural system to resist uplift and sliding forces 4. Components, attachments, and cladding 5. Redundancy factors 6. Overstrength 7. Ductility requirements 8. Abutment/pier seat width B. Structural Systems Integration 1. Structural systems to resist effects of lateral forces 2. Constructability 3. Strengthening existing systems: seismic retrofit a. Details b. System compatibility C. Structural Steel 1. Ordinary moment frames 2. Intermediate moment-resisting frames 3. Special moment-resisting frames 4. Bracing 5. Ordinary concentric braced frames 6. Special concentric braced frames 7. Eccentric braced frames 8. Bridge piers D. Light Gage/Cold-Formed Steel 1. Metal deck diaphragms 2. Light-framed wall systems (e.g., shearwall systems) E. Concrete 1. Ordinary or intermediate shear walls 2. Special shear walls 3. Ordinary or intermediate moment-resisting frames 4. Special moment-resisting frames 5. Diaphragms 6. Reinforcement details (e.g., ductile detailing, anchorage) 7. Bridge piers 8. Tilt-up construction F. Wood 1. Shear walls 2. Plywood diaphragms (e.g., drag struts, chords) 3. Plywood sub-diaphragms G. Masonry 1. Flexural-compression members 2. Slender walls 3. Ordinary or intermediate shear walls 4. Special shear walls
2

60% 7.5%

5%

10%

2.5%

12.5%

7.5%

7.5%

5. Anchorage for walls (e.g., out-of-plane) 6. Attachment of elements to masonry H. Foundations and Retaining Structures 1. Spread footings 2. Piles (concrete, steel, timber) 3. Drilled shafts/drilled piers/caissons III. Construction Administration A. Structural observation

7.5%

3%

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Design Standards1

These standards apply to the Vertical and Lateral components of the Structural Engineering exam.

Effective for the April and October 2011 Examinations

ABBREVIATION AASHTO2

DESIGN STANDARD TITLE AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, 4th edition, 2007, with 2008 Interim Revisions, American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, Washington, DC. International Building Code, 2006 edition (without supplements), International Code Council, Falls Church, VA. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, 2005, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA. Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete, 2005, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, MI. Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures (and related commentaries), 2005; American Concrete Institute, Detroit, MI; Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA; and The Masonry Society, Boulder, CO. Steel Construction Manual, 13th edition, American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL. Seismic Design Manual, 2nd printing (October 2006) or 3rd printing (March 2008), American Institute of Steel Construction, Inc., Chicago, IL. North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members, 2001 edition, with 2004 supplement, American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington, DC. National Design Specification for Wood Construction ASD/LRFD, 2005 edition & National Design Specification Supplement, Design Values for Wood Construction, 2005 edition, American Forest & Paper Association (formerly National Forest Products Association), Washington, DC. PCI Design Handbook: Precast and Prestressed Concrete, 6th edition, 2004, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, Chicago, IL.

IBC ASCE 7 ACI 318 ACI 530/530.1-053

AISC4 AISC AISI

NDS

PCI

Notes 1. Solutions to exam questions that reference a standard of practice are scored based on this list. Solutions based on other editions or standards will not receive credit. All questions use the US Customary System (USCS) of units. 2. This publication is available through AASHTO with an item code of LRFD-PE. 3. Examinees will use only the Allowable Stress Design (ASD) method, except strength design Section 3.3.5 may be used for walls with out-of-plane loads. 4. Examinees may choose between the AISC/ASD and AISC/LRFD design following the 13th edition only.
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